Tim Houk

I blog about this quite frequently.  It appears we are starting to feel the pinches of the recession in housing market.  According to the Baton rouge Business Report,

“Louisiana still ranks low for foreclosures, even though percentage of
homes facing seizure went up by nearly 79% in April, when compared to
the year before. According to RealtyTrac, one out of every 1,653 homes
in Louisiana is foreclosed, compared with the national average of one
out of every 374 houses. That put the state 38th in foreclosures during
April. The number of foreclosures nationally went up by 32% in April,
when compared with April 2008. Nevada once again had the highest
foreclosure rate, with one out of every 68 houses facing bank seizure.
Vermont was once again ranked last; there were two foreclosures in the
whole state during April. RealtyTrac says April had the highest number
of foreclosures since it started keeping an eye on the numbers three
years ago.”

While searching for properties this morning I noticed quite a few short sales (pre-foreclosures) just in general listings.  What is NOT helping is just how dang hard it is to get a mortgage to help eliminate some of this inventory.  Stay posted for more updates on Baton Rouge Real Estate foreclosures

I am receiving a LOT of calls concering foreclosures in the baton rouge area.  I am not sure if anyone has seen the statistics, but we rank among the lowest in foreclosures.  That being said, since the demand for them is high and the inventory is low it is imperative that if you are searching that you be knowledged on the area that you are searching in so you can move on it IMMEDIATELY.   If you do not…someone else will.  Contact me to sign up for my weekly best buy list.

Tim Houk

www.timhouk.com

Tim@timhouk.com

Fantastic home that is tucked away and ready for a new owner!

Show and sell!

If you are interested in working with a Baton Rouge area Realtor in investment property, I just posted a blog on active rain about some properties in our area. I would regurgitate it here but its much easier to go read it there   There are some good deals on foreclosure properties.  Contact me with questions!

Tim Houk

tim@timhouk.com

225.301.7467

RIS media is reporting the rates on which buyers are finding their home online.  Typically, the buyer finds the home and then contacts a real estate agent.  This is interesting on 2 fronts.  One is that realtors need to actively market their properties not just on the local listing service. They need to be online in as MANY places as possible.  Secondly, that homeowners need to have the home IMMACULATE before putting it on the market.  The realtor, or even if it is FSBO, will be putting pictures online.  This is the FIRST image that buyers will see in most cases these days.  They should be clean, clutter free, and make the home look like it just came out of a home improvement magazine!  Read more on the article at www.beautifulbatonrougehomes.com

Tim Houk

Good Morning all!  I have been doing quite a bit of research and spending time on social networking sites such as active rain, twitter, and so on.  I wanted to step out of the box a little and find some new ones that you may build a niche in before they got TOO big.  Here is a list of 10 that are making waves:

1. Entrepreneur Connect – Started by Entrepreneur magazine this one is specifically for entrepreneurs and small business owners.   You can use this to connect to vendors and service providers.

2. Partner up – This is a social network for entrepreneurs who are searching for people with business opportunities. There is a lean towards commercial real estate  on this one, but it is much more.

3. Start up nation – really creative and a bit more user friendly. Lots of forums, blogs, and podcasts.

4. LinkedIn – Can’t leave this one off any list. Large following and can be used to find a job, build a network, or brand yourself.

5. Biznik – Brands itself as the “social network that doesn’t suck” ahha.  Good place to share ideas

And to finish out the list

6. Perfect Business – This one will be one to watch

7. Go Big Network

8. Cofoundr

9. TheFunded

10. Young Entrepreneur

I look forward to seeing you in one of these soon!

Tim Houk

Baton Rouge Realtor

I am at. Home inspection at 13662 Joseph st in walker, la. Sales price of this home is 126,900. Here is the great thing about it…100 percent loan financing! If you are outside of baton rouge city limits, homes qualify for rural development loans. How incredible is this for first time buyers?! Three bedroom, two bath home…1200 sq ft. Fenced back yard, split floor plan, new laminate flooring, workshop, and a landscaped yard. Talk about a lot for your money! Right off ball park road and Florida blvd.

Call me 225.301.7467 to discuss your options on a home of this type, or to view homes in baton rouge

Tim Houk
Www.timhouk.com
Www.beautifulbatonrougehomes.com

Custom designed by Mark Mathews, AIA, Architect.
Enter this New Orleans style home to brick arches and
antique pine beams, antique pine floors, and custom
McArthur fireplace. Granite in all baths and kitchen,
even in utility room! Kitchen has gourmet stainless
appliances including Thermador range, pot filler, and
cypress cabinets. Large keeping room has a fireplace
and the entire area has slate floors. There is a home
office center just off of kitchen. Very functional triple
split floorplan. Master bedroom has antique pine floors
with adjoining luxurious bathroom with multi-head
custom shower and Jacuzzi tub. There is a huge “bonus
room” above the garage large enough for a pool table
or media room. There is a “mud’ area by back door,
with storage for everyone’s daily baggage. Home is
pre-piped for central vacuum system and has Control4
Smart Home System with audio zones, lighting and air
conditioning controls through remote or touch pad.

Good morning everyone! I am in a meeting this morning with a bunch of realtors and NOLA lending. They announced the rates for this week. Are you ready???? Rates for conventional are as low as 4.625! FHA rates are below 5.0. This is HUGE. FHA rates have been about 5.5 for the past few months. Coupled with the first time buyer tax credit of 8000.00, this is THE time to buy. Call me today for a consultation! 225.301.7467
Www.timhouk.com

Just wanted to let everyone that uses my site to search for baton rouge homes, I have made some changes.  I added some new content and I will be adding an AWESOME new search feature by Wolfnet.  This should be a major improvement from the current one.  Thanks for following my blog and have a great weekend.

Tim Houk

www.timhouk.com